Mauricio Pochettino warns players “to have respect” after latest Chelsea star display

Mauricio Pochettino warns players “to have respect” after latest Chelsea star display

Mauricio Pochettino has issued a stark warning to Chelsea winger Noni Madueke and the rest of his young squad after the 21-year-old was spotted out partying.

Madueke has not played since sustaining a muscle injury while on international duty with England Under-21s earlier this month. However, there was confusion over his failure to make the bench when Chelsea beat Brighton 1-0 in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.

Pochettino has since revealed the winger’s omission from the squad was due to fitness concerns rather than his behaviour, but the Blues boss made it clear he had seen the video of the former PSV Eindhoven player partying at a nightclub in Mayfair.

Speaking about Madueke’s absence, Pochettino revealed that there were other youngsters in the squad who needed ‘to have more respect for the badge’.

“It is clear. This video, we were talking about that with him,” the Italian said.

“It is a thing that we need to avoid. All the players need to know that when we are a player of Chelsea to try to avoid these things.

“It wasn’t a big issue but we always need to avoid these types of situations. It is really clear that he needs to avoid it.

“But he is recovering from the national team and we will see if he is fit and can be involved and selected.

“But we talk about what you are asking me because it is a thing that the young players need to improve on.

“Not only him. Many, many players need to be professional and to have respect because of the badge we have here.”

However, Pochettino hinted that Madueke could be involved against Fulham on Monday.

“In my opinion he is working really hard to get the levels that we want after his injury,” he added.

“He came back from the international break maybe 10 or 12 days ago. Now he feels well and he is recovered. Now he is trying to get fit to be on the same level as the team.”